The world of franchising is booming with over 3,000 franchise concepts spanning 90 different categories*, so QSR’s seventh annual Best Franchise Deals is quite the undertaking. Assessing brands on everything from their key financial metrics to the happiness of the Franchise Partners in their system, the list ranks the top nine. On this year’s list? Donatos! We are honored to be on QSR’s list that features the best of the best.

We’ve experienced same-store sales growth from 2013 to 2016, have an AUV that’s rounding $1.1 million, and have built our system to more than 150 units. More than the numbers, Donatos has been around since 1963 and is continuing to modernize, to be more sustainable, and to deliver on the Edge to Edge® pizza, and culture our customers love and expect.

Learn more about joining one of the best and franchising with Donatos. Fill out the form for more information today!

Donatos Pizza opened its first Tennessee location on Monday, February 1, 2016 in Nashville’s Midtown neighborhood. The Nashville Donatos features a contemporary look, which is a fresh concept for the long-standing pizza chain. Their Nashville menu also includes items you won’t find at other Donatos locations. Nashville Guru stopped by to get a look inside the new space.

For some four decades, Jane Grote Abell has lived and breathed the Donatos Pizza culture. Her new book, The Missing Piece: Doing Business the Donatos Way, shares the history of the Columbus, Ohio–based brand, as well as anecdotes from Abell herself and other members of the pizza family.

Just a few feet apart in the Short North stand a pair of Donatos stores — the old and the new.

The light brick and black awnings of the 20-year-old store at the corner of N. High Street and E. First Avenue will be demolished in the coming weeks, leaving the glass, distressed wood and charcoal brick of the new store as the chain’s central Ohio showpiece.

In this Salute to American Success, we’re taking a look at pizza franchise Donatos Pizza. This company, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio began serving customers back in 1963, when then-19-year-old Jim Grote bought an existing pizza shop for $1,300.

I am unabashedly a fan of pizza. Being born and raised (and still residing) in Philly I of course have my local favorites. However, I am also a fan of some chains as well, one of them being Donatos.

Ah who are we kidding. At 6 foot, 3 inches tall and weighing in at 250 pounds there ain’t a whole helluva lot of foods I don’t like. But be that as it may, I do in fact like Donatos and after speaking with Jane Abell, the CEO of Donatos I like them even more – and it has nothing to do with the food.